During the recent Fall Rally, Cathedral’s Associated Student Body (ASB) introduced Spirit Points to increase school spirit. These Spirit Points are intended to create friendly competition and increase class pride and unity by rewarding classes for their participation and school spirit.

When ASB noticed a decline in spirit and lack of attendance at some school events, they created spirit points as a possible solution to increase involvement. “Spirit points are almost analogous to the Harry Potter Gryffindor point system. We wanted to give points to reward the classes to represent themselves,” said ASB facilitator and Activity Director Ms. Christine Lagrimas.

Students can get spirit points through participation and enthusiasm at the rallies. Other possible ways students can get spirit points is by attending different sports and art events. They can also receive additional spirit points by wearing an ASB spirit shirt or spirit dress.

Classes can prove and monitor some of their points themselves. For instance, students attending the previously mentioned events can get points by taking a picture of themselves and their friends and showing it to an ASB member, who keeps track of the points.

Since Cathedral Catholic High School is a commuter school and includes people driving from all over the county, attending school events can be difficult for some. Spirit points might encourage students, even those who commute, to attend other school events besides just major sporting events. “We wanted to encourage people to attend. We want people to go to a lacrosse game. We want people to go to a girl’s soccer match. We want people to go to a girl’s field hockey game, or a water polo game. We just want students to see other students’ work,” said Ms. Lagrimas.

Spirit points also affected roles for ASB by modifying some jobs and creating some new ones. The Spirit Commissioners are now the head ASB members in charge of spirit points; however, all ASB members look out for spirit. And, instead of a freshman class treasurer, there is now a freshman class historian/spirit leader. The ASB position as historian/spirit leader is being phased in each year. A spirit leader’s job is to build spirit in their class and collect photographic evidence of that spirit being expressed.

At the end of the semester, the class with the most spirit points will receive the CCHS Dons Spirit Flag. ASB initially envisions a flag displayed on the pole in front of the library, and under the pole there would be plaque with the winning class and year engraved. The winning class would also get to wave their flag during the rally to show off their spirit.

Ms. Lagrimas predicts that, “[This semester’s winning class] has to be the seniors–not just because they are big, but historically in the last four years they were the most spirited group.” However, she also said, “They need a challenge.”